Tim Tszyu camp willing to chase world titles overseas

The 27-year-old puts a world title shot on the line when he faces Japan's Takeshi Inoue in Sydney on Wednesday night.

Tszyu boasts a perfect 19-0 record and a win would set the mandatory challenger on a collision course with WBO super welterweight champion Brian Castano - but a loss would see those plans go up in smoke.

No Limit Boxing chief executive George Rose is desperate to host Tszyu's first shot at a world championship in Australia but concedes it is far from a done deal.

Castano's past four bouts have been held in the United States and the Argentinian's camp could strongarm Tszyu into fighting overseas for the WBO belt.

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But that would do little to dispel Tszyu's ambition having already voiced his desire to chase fights overseas and defend titles in Australia and Russia, the home of his legendary father Kostya Tszyu.

"We'd love to have it here in Australia. Tim being the challenger for the world title, you don't have all the power on your side," Rose said.

"In saying that, we'll try our absolute best to get it here anywhere in Australia. It's Tim Tszyu, Tim Tszyu is representing us, Tim Tszyu is representing Australia.

"Any fight we can get here, we'll make sure we do try our absolute best to get it here because we're all behind him. It'd be a good feel for Tim to fight for his first world title here in Australia."

Tszyu risks his place as the WBO's mandatory challenger against Inoue this week, with the Japanese contender claiming he arrives for this bout in better shape than he was when he challenged Jaime Munguia for the world championship.

It would have been easy for the Sydney-based fighter to sit back and wait for his chance at Castano in the new year, but manager Glen Jennings says the prodigiously talented contender is "one of those fighters that won't sit and wait for anybody".

"It's a very exciting time right now for Team Tszyu 2, No Limit and the Australian boxing fans. It's a very real opportunity and a very real chance that our next outing will be against Brian Castano for that world title," Jennings said.

"It's just a matter of timing now to see whether or not the mandate gets enforced and we'll roll on with that. It's not something we discussed as a team. We are very fixed and focused on Takeshi for Wednesday night, we don't ever go too far forward. It's all about what happens on Wednesday.

"Another victory, Tim's hand raised again, and then we'll huddle on Wednesday night afterwards immediately to move onto the next stage. For everybody involved, we would love to be able to announce soon it will be for that world title.

"This card is as good a card as you'll see anywhere in the world. Everybody should take advantage. Tim is ready, he's always ready, we never have any lack of confidence that he is going to take care of business and he'll do so again on Wednesday."

BOXING

Wednesday, November 17: Tim Tszyu v Takeshi Inoue at Sydney Super Dome. Tickets from Ticketek. Broadcast live on Main Event.

FIGHT CARD

WBO Global and WBO Asia Pacific super welterweight championships: Tim Tszyu [19-0] v Takeshi Inoue [17-1-1]

IBO International super welterweight championship: Wade Ryan [19-9] v Nath Nwachukwu [7-1-2]

Super welterweight: Joel Camilleri [20-6-1] v Koen Mazoudier [8-2]

Super welterweight: Dennis Hogan [28-4-1] v Tommy Browne [42-7-2]

Heavyweight: Jackson Murray [1-0] v Shant Nercessian [1-4-1]

Bantamweight: Viviana Ruiz Corredor [1-0] v Jacinta Austin [debut]

Welterweight: Alex Lual [2-0] v Trent Girdham [2-0]

Super welterweight: Benjamin Hussein [3-1] v Darwin Sagurit [debut]

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